India have been boosted by the return of their vice captain Shubman Gill and star all-rounder Hardik Pandya as they have been put to bat first in Cuttack.
South Africa won the toss and opted to field first against India in the opening match of the five-game T20I series on Tuesday, December 12 at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.
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India vs South Africa LIVE Score 1st T20 at Cuttack
Shubman Gill, the vice captain of the T20I side, returned to action for the first time since his injury last month during the first Test against the same team in Kolkata. Hardik Pandya too made his way back into the playing XI after being sidelined due to injury since the Asia Cup earlier this year.
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Sanju Samson once again could not find a place in the XI while Kuldeep Yadav too found himself on the bench.
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav said he was happy with batting first even as he conceded that bowling in dew could become a challenge for his bowlers. He said that the team will continue with their fearless batting approach.
South Africa captain Aiden Markram said that playing in India ahead of the World Cup will be important for his side.
Pacer Anrich Nortje returned to the Proteas side for the first time since the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup where India defeated South Africa.
India vs South Africa 1st T20I playing xi
South Africa Playing XI: Quinton de Kock(w), Aiden Markram(c), Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Lutho Sipamla, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje
India Playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma(w), Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh
India vs South Africa T20 series full squads
South Africa: Quinton de Kock(w), Aiden Markram(c), Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Reeza Hendricks, Ottneil Baartman, Donovan Ferreira, Kwena Maphaka, George Linde
India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma(w), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana
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